Byo deputy mayor steps down

BULAWAYO deputy mayor Tinashe Kambarami yesterday officially stepped down from his post, days after he was given a seven-day ultimatum by the MDC Alliance party leadership to do so or face expulsion for defying a party directive on the selection of a deputy mayor.

BY NQOBANI NDLOVU

Ward 1 councillor Mlandu Ncube was the party’s preferred choice for deputy mayor, but was beaten to the post by Kambarami in elections held two months ago.

The Southern Eye was told Kambarami finally succumbed to pressure from the party leadership and stepped down during a meeting held at the provincial offices yesterday.

Dlamini was accused of bringing the party into disrepute by defying a directive to stand down and pave way for the party’s preferred mayoral candidate Margaret Varley and undermining protocol among other charges.

Mwonzora, in a letter to the Matabeleland North provincial executive dated October 29, said Dlamini’s expulsion was null and void.

“Your purported expulsion of the member is null and void for want of compliance with the party constitution as that is the duty of the national disciplinary committee headed by the national chairperson or the national council,” Mwonzora wrote.

“Please note that in terms of Clause 6.1.9 of the Real Change Code of ethics Annexure B of the constitution, a member can only be dismissed after due process has been followed. It’s clear that this has not been the case and your purported expulsion is therefore null and void.”